Centre plans to widen CBI powers to tackle terrorists

Panaji, Jan 12: The Centre is planning to extend the jurisdiction of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), so that it could directly undertake investigations of major offences such as terrorist attacks in different places.

''We are thinking of even defining the offences, including terrorist attacks so that CBI could directly launch investigation of cases without clashes over jurisdictions of States as law and order is the concurrent subject as per the constitution,'' said Dr E M Sudarsana Natchiappan Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee of Personnel, Public Grievances, law and Justice Departments.

Speaking to the media after the Committee meeting at Goa, Dr Natchiappan said the committee was also considering a proposal to set up a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) like in the US for investigating the Offences of grave nature such as terrorist attacks with immediate effect.

''In several instances, the States have not been acting promptly on the basis of inputs provided by the Central Intelligence Bureau, resulting in commission of Offences such as terrorist strikes. This could be avoided if there is a common agency like the Federal Police to deal with notified Offences,'' Dr Natchiappan pointed out.

The Committee is likely to submit its 24th report on the working of the CBI with its recommendations in Parliament's budget session next month. The government had to notify the Offences that could be investigated by the Federal Police of CBI, he added.